Gameday Live Blog/Open Thread: Yellow Jackets @ Fighting Irish | Game 22
Good afternoon from the Purcell Pavilion in South Bend, IN, where the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (10-11, 4-6 ACC) are resuming ACC play and will be taking on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish (12-8, 3-6 ACC). This is a rematch of a game played just two and half weeks ago on January 15th, when Notre Dame came to McCamish Pavilion and defeated the Yellow Jackets to the tune of 78-74.
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Tipoff is set for 12:00pm, and you can catch the game on Fox Sports South.
PREGAME/PREVIEW
Ahead of today's tipoff, be sure to check out our preview of the Fighting Irish and other related readings:
What To Watch For Vs. Notre Dame
Tale of The Tape: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Josh Pastner Previews Notre Dame
Depth & Rotation Will Be Key Down The Stretch
Probable Starters:
- Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
G Jose Alvarado
F Khalid Moore
F Jordan Usher
F Moses Wright
C James Banks III
- Notre Dame Fighting Irish
G Prentiss Hubb
G TJ Gibbs
G Rex Pflueger
F Juwan Durham
F John Mooney
Personnel Update: Sophomore shooting guard Michael Devoe is still "day-to-day" and is questionable for today's game.
Additional Update: Devoe is officially out for today's game. He is no participating in warmups. Forward Khalid Moore takes his place once again in the starting lineup.
FIRST HALF:
19:44: Alvarado connects on his first shot of the day, a three pointer.
16:11: Tech has missed their last 4 shots and made just 1 of their last 7.
15:42: Following a quick start by both teams, there has been bit of a dry spell on both ends of the floor. Notre Dame has not made a field goal in 2:49 and Tech is on a 2:23 scoring drought. Notre Dame has mostly attempted three pointers (2 of 3 attempts), and has turned it over 3 times in the first few minutes. However GT is not much better on the offensive side either, shooting just 2-9 from the field.
15:21: GT has missed their last 7 shots. They are struggling to connect down low in the paint.
14:43: A dunk from Jordan Usher breaks a cold streak from the Jackets
11:56: Offense is starting to become more free flowing for there Irish. They have made 4 of their last 5 shots, with 7 of their 9 attempts coming from beyond the arc. While the Irish have turned it over 4 times and the Yellow Jackets have out rebounded them on the offensive glasswork (5-0), Tech cannot cash in on the other side. They are just 6-18 from the floor, inclusion junior forward Jordan Usher going just 1-6.
7:54: Tech is doing a solid job at not allowing Notre Dame extra possessions, but they themselves are struggling to be able to capitalize on their own. They out-rebound the Irish 14-11 and have 6 offensive boards to ND's 1 & have only committed 1 turnover, but are shooting a paltry 8-24 from the field and 2-7 from beyond the arc.
6:35: GT has made 4 of their last 5 shots.
3:14: Georgia Tech is starting to find a lot of good looks at the basket. They have hot 7 of their last 10 shots to take a 30-26 lead, and have 18 points in the paint to ND's 4. Tech also continues to build their rebounding margin, leading the Irish 19-13 in that department. They have taken considerably better care of the ball so far in this game than they have many time sin the past, committing just 2 turnovers.
2:38: A jumper from Alvarado gives him 11 for the game and Tech has made 6 of their last 8 to continue their offensive streak.
1:23: Pastner calls a timeout after ND makes their last 3 shots to take back the lead. He is unhappy with the defensive transitions in the last few possessions by his team.
HALFTIME: Notre Dame 36, Georgia Tech 33.
Stats at the Half:
SECOND HALF:
19:12: Alvarado's 2nd three pointer of the game ties the game up, but ND immediately responds with a three of their own.
18:01: Alvarado has made GT's last 3 field goals.
17:22: James Banks III nails a pair of free throws but commits the and-1 foul on the other end.
16:31: Banks III is called for his 3rd foul of the game.
15:38: Both James Banks III and Jose Alvarado have stepped up to the occasion here in the second half, as they both have all of Tech's 11 second half points. GT is also continuing to beat Notre Dame on the glass, out-rebounding them 6-1 in the second half and 29-16 for the game. Similarly, John Mooney has all of ND's 8 second half points.
14:53: Moses Wright picks up his 4th foul of the game.
13:24: Alvarado misses the back part of a 1 and 1, is now 2-4 at the line.
11:42: Pastner calls timeout after ND hits a three pointer to extend their lead out to 5, their largest lead of the game. The Irish are starting to catch up to the Jackets on the glass, as Tech maintains just +1 second half rebounding margin. Mooney & Alvarado are essentially exchanging buckets at this point in the game, as the duo has 19 of the second half's 32 points.
10:04: The Irish are on an 8-2 run and have taken a 6 point lead. Tech has assisted on just 6 of their 20 baskets.
8:59: James Banks III is given his 4th foul of the game.
8:00: Momentum is really starting swing in Notre Dame's direction. The Irish are currently on a 13-5 run are keeping pace with Tech's rebounding.
6:34: ND has made their last 3 shots and 5 of their last 7.
5:19: Pastner calls a timeout after a cutback from Evan Cole cuts the deficit to just 67-59.
4:35: A wide open ND layup gives them a 10 point lead.
3:44: Jose Alvarado's 3rd three pointer of the game pulls them to within 9, Pastner calls timeout. Notre Dame's offense is continuing to click down the stretch, as they have made 6 of their last 8. Mooney had tied a career high of 28.
1:33: A dunk from Banks III cuts the ND lead to 73-66, but the Irish have been working to kill the clock.
0:53: Moses Wright fouls out.
FINAL: Notre Dame 80, Georgia Tech 72
Final Stats:
